I remember the snow
crunching underfoot
as I made my way
staggering
leaning
sliding
up from the VXE6 Squadron crewroom
through the glacial ice and up
into the midnight sun
Blinking and disorientd
soft snowflakes whispered
onto the shoulders of my combat jacket
and froze into my beard as I stumbled
towards the uilding
I had no idea
what the building was
but it must have been new as it sat above the glacial ice
I remember th skua's wheeling and diving
and me, three parts pissed
and looking for a friendly RC Chaplain
I reached the building and it was empty
devoid of anything but a cross and several wooden pews
I picked the front pew,
pulled on my bear claws for extra warmth
then crashed
The priest woke me at 23.55,
he was freshly shaven and kind.
I blinked back the cracklin' rose
and wild turkey, said my confession and
sat holding my hangover with as much dignity
as a soldier can muster.
I don't remember much about the service,
I think we spoke Latin and I prayed for my children
and a wife, so very far away. I took communion.
I remember blinking into the midnight sun
when the mass ended
and we crunched back into the ice and snow and skua gulls
---------------------------------
Mike Subritzky
IWVPA Christmas project 2002
